Mexico currently lacks comprehensive and systematic data on the well-being of children and adolescents in residential care, limiting the formulation of effective child welfare policies. As the first qualitative study of its kind in the country, this research explored indicators of physical and psychological well-being among a purposive sample of 197 children and adolescents living in facilities administered by the National System for the Comprehensive Development of the Family (SNDIF). Using qualitative content analysis of institutional case files, supported by descriptive statistical summaries, the study identified recurring patterns and tendencies related to the physical and psychological conditions of this population.
The findings suggest that documented levels of well-being tend to fall below desired standards and that institutional responses may only partially align with the comprehensive protection principles established in Mexican child welfare legislation. By generating qualitative, document-based evidence on children and adolescents in SNDIF facilities, this study contributes to the limited empirical base on institutional care in Mexico. The results underscore the importance of strengthening professional practices, staff training, and intersectoral coordination to better support the holistic development and well-being of children in residential care across Latin American contexts.